Overview
- Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with ESPN carrying the broadcast.
- Ohio State enters as the defending champion and No. 2 seed with a first‑round bye after a 12-1 season and a Big Ten title game loss to No. 1 Indiana.
- Miami advanced as the No. 10 seed after a 10-3 road win at No. 7 Texas A&M, powered by seven sacks and a late interception.
- Key matchup factors include Julian Sayin’s nation‑leading 78.4% completion rate against a Hurricanes front led by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, and Ohio State’s top scoring defense allowing 8.2 points per game.
- Ohio State will be without starting right guard Tegra Tshabola to start the playoff following surgery, sharpening focus on protection after Sayin was sacked five times in the Big Ten title game; the rematch also revives 2003 Fiesta Bowl memories, with later reviews affirming the decisive pass‑interference call though its timing drew criticism.